Compare towns
Oakham vs Ashburnham vs Westhampton vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Westhampton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Oakham | Ashburnham | Westhampton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,639 |
6,415Highest |
1,552 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±2.3 23% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$100,000±$7kLowest 4% below MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Ashburnham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Whately and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 32% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #178 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Ashburnham-Westminster | Hampshire · Westhampton | Whately |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.